Related Articles

Zonal geraniums (Pelargonium x hortorum) stand out among other geraniums with their very large flower clusters and circular, dark green leaf markings. They are widely grown as annual bedding or potted plants and are hardy outdoors in U.S. Department of Agriculture plant hardiness zones 10 and 11. Zonal geraniums propagate both from seeds and from slips, or cuttings, taken in late summer or early spring. However, some varieties must be propagated from slips because they will not come true from seed.

1

Locate a 4- to 6-inch-long slip from a healthy zonal geranium stem. Choose one with at least three nodes, or leaves, and a plump stem with no blemishes or damage. Avoid stems with flowers because they may not reliably root.

2

Sever the zonal geranium slip directly below a pair of leaves, using a sharp knife. Remove the lower leaves along the bottom half of the slip. Wrap the slip in a moist paper towel while preparing a pot.

3

Wash out a small plastic pot with at least two drainage holes at the base. Fill it with porous, sterile growing medium, such as coarse vermiculite or perlite, or use a mix of coarse sand and milled peat moss. Moisten the medium.

4

Make a hole in the center of the medium that is deep enough to hold the bottom half of the zonal geranium slip. Dust the defoliated portion of the stem with powdered rooting hormone. Insert the stem into the hole and push the medium firmly against it.

5

Place the pot inside a large sealable plastic bag such as a 2-gallon freezer storage bag. Prop up the bag with two wooden skewers, if it rests against or touches the slip. Seal the bag.

6

Place the pot in a warm, sheltered area indoors where temperatures stay above 70 degrees Fahrenheit. Choose a spot where the light is bright yet indirect, such as on the sill of a west- or north-facing window. Shield the cutting from direct sun.

7

Check the moisture level in the growing medium every few days. Moisten the top 2 inches if it feels nearly dry just beneath the surface. Avoid letting the medium dry out completely, but also don't overwater it, because soggy medium promotes bacterial growth.

8

Check for roots three to five weeks after potting the zonal geranium slip. Tug the base of the stem and feel if it has anchored to the growing medium. Open up the plastic bag after the slip roots, but keep it in place for two to three days before removing it entirely.

9

Transplant the zonal geranium slip into a 4-inch pot with drainage holes and filled with rich, neutral potting soil one week after it roots. Grow it in a bright, sheltered location with indirect sun and protection from wind and drafts.

10

Pinch back the cutting by one-third in January of the following year to promote branching, and then again in mid-February to encourage a bushier, more robust appearance. Continue to water when the soil feels nearly dry beneath the surface.

Things You Will Need

Knife

Paper towel

Small plastic pot

Vermiculite

Rooting hormone powder

2-gallon freezer bag

Wooden skewers

Neutral potting soil

Warning

Pinching back young zonal geranium plants encourages a better shape, but it will also delay flowering by a month.